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Biodigester technology

This topic provides information about biodigestor technology.

Contents

Introduction

Human waste disposal in innocuous form is an ever growing problem leading to aesthetic nuisance, threat of organic pollution & several infectious diseases in epidemic proportions due to contamination of ground water and drinking water resources in highly populated and developing countries, like India. Less than 30% of Indians have access to the toilets. In rural areas about 10% of houses have toilets and rest of the people go to open defecation. Population in the cities although have better access to the toilets but only to the tune of ~70%. Untreated waste is responsible for several diseases like, dysentery, diarrhoea, amoebiasis, viral hepatitis, cholera, typhoid etc. taking the life of lakhs of children annually.

Biodigester technology has been developed by Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) for resolving the problems of un-decomposed human waste. The innovation degrades and converts the human waste into usable water and gasses in an eco-friendly manner. The generated gas can be utilized for energy/ cooking and water for irrigation purposes.

The process involves the bacteria which feed upon the faecal matter inside the tank, through anaerobic process which finally degrades the matter and releases methane gas that can be used for cooking, along with the treated water.

Salient Features

No bad smell in toilets from the tanks

Faecal matter in the tank not visible

No infestation of cockroaches & flies

No clogging of digester

Effluent is free from off odour and solid waste

Reduction in pathogens by 99%

Reduction in organic matter by 90%

No maintenance required

No requirement of adding bacteria/ enzyme

No need of removal of solid waste

Use of phenyl is permitted upto 84 ppm

Available models

The following models are available

Microbial inoculum (cold-active)

Isolated, screened, selected and enriched through acclimatization and bio-augmentation

Can withstand freezing and thawing

Ability to inactivate the intestinal pathogens

High altitute model

Material: Metal/FRP of cylindrical shape

Works at low temperature as well as high temperature

Glacier model

Material: Metal/FRP of cylindrical shape

Provided with insulation and heating arrangement with solar system

Plain area model

Material: Material: FRP/MS

Suitable for existing/independent toilet

Also available with top mounted toilets

Can be installed for single house/apartment/society/ community

Island model

Material: FRP

Design involves longer path for treatment

Suitable for high water usages and areas with high water table

Biotank model

Low cost, simple design for onsite construction

Material: Brick / RCC structure/ FRP

REED BED SYSTEM (optional) improves effluent quality & can also be used to treat kitchen and bathroom waste water

I'd like to add a comment from this release.
The Biodigester generally implies the aerobic process with some gap that may be taken by the anaerobic process in few extent. In Ghana and Niger and some countries, generally the biodigester is constructed in a manner that the digestate or biosolid is already transformed into fertilizer and the liquid find its way out with no scent. Sometimes, it's communicated in a way that the effluent goes underground with drip soil irrigation. Whole the system is ventilated with an artifact that let the oxygen be part of the process.
In other hand the 'Biogas digester' or 'Biogas digestre plant' requires the absence of oxygen, Hence its process is anaerobic with the production of biogas, effluent and biosolid. The scent here is far more higher that the aerobic process due to the gas production

Sri. Nithyya Vrishavahana Ananda Mhrj
Feb 08, 2018 12:17 PM

This is a useful effort as we can dispose waste and get manure and gas out,
This should be put to central government and get some subsidy or any possible incentive for households, communities, retirement living places or apartment living spaces.
The incentive can prompt more people to use this and get the benefit. The by products are assumed to be more organic or is there some bad effects by people using chemical medicines?
However incentive can work in utilizing more waste to make some useful output. So I ffeel that effort can go in that direction.

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